An American flag and a military uniform are symbols that bring U.S. citizens pride, gratitude and a sense of peace. Though our soldiers, the heroes, appear strong and unbreakable on the outside, so many silently suffer. Nearly 30% of them sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive conditions that go unnoticed and untreated, leading to the destruction of lives and families. There hasn’t been a program that offers the extensive range of services needed for a full recovery and successful transition from military to civilian life, until now.
ViaQuest is proud to announce their collaboration with Dr. Chrisanne Gordon, Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services at Memorial Hospital of Union County in Marysville, Ohio. Her special interest is with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) since she has experienced TBI recovery both as a physician and as a patient. Together we have built the Recovery and Reintegration of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Program (RRVT), specializing in supporting TBI and PTSD victims.
Dr. Gordon’s mission is to provide educational, vocational, and employment opportunities for the more than 60,000 veterans currently living in Ohio. According to Dr. Gordon, “the partnership with ViaQuest, whose highly specialized team strives to provide a suite of services for veterans, will result in aiding hundreds of military professionals in the first year.”
ViaQuest’s President and CEO, Rich Johnson, added that “ViaQuest’s collaboration with Dr. Gordon means that Ohio veterans will be given the many and varied opportunities and supports they both need and deserve. As a veteran myself, I’m deeply honored to be serving the men and women of our armed forces through this initiative.”
Current programs help with various issues, but RRVT is the first of its kind in that it has the ability to offer all five components needed for long-term recovery and reintegration for veterans suffering from TBI, PTSD, and major depression. RRVT’s capabilities will include the following, helping to minimalize issues of homelessness, substance abuse, suicide, criminal activity and more.
- Health Care Services (physical, emotional, mental, behavioral)
- Educational Services (vocational training, continuing education, certificating/licensing)
- Pre-Employment Services (preparation, selection, placement)
- Post-Employment Services (job coaching, case management)
- Residential Services (housing, home based supports, transportation)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes traumatic brain injury as a major cause of death and disability in the U.S. Survivors may face short-term effects or long-term disabilities. The impact on our heroes and economy is significant and needs to be addressed:
- Over 400,000 military personnel and veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD or TBI since 2001
- 73% of veterans who suffered a TBI have never received care at a VA facility – most symptoms do not begin until after soldiers return home
- The unemployment rate for veterans is greater than the national average of their age-matched civilian counterparts
- An estimated 13,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were homeless in 2014
- The loss in a sense of mission or accomplishment in a veteran often leads to depression and suicide
- Rehabilitation services are estimated at $25,000 per soldier/ per year. Using RRVT’s telemedicine, physicians can reduce the six-month cost for rehabilitation to $4,250/soldier
Following RRVT’s successful implementation in Ohio, the program will expand and be implemented on a larger regional basis, including service delivery in the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.
If you are a Veteran interested in discussing ViaQuest Veteran Services, please contact us:
Phone: (614) 339-8408 | Email: Veteran.Services@ViaQuestInc.com
If you are an Employer interested in hiring qualified Veterans, please contact:
Larry Worth, Executive Director, ViaQuest Diversity & Inclusion Services
Email: Larry.Worth@ViaQuestInc.com
